Possibly distressing Futurama news

[Ghoulish Delight]

After success with the straight-to-video Futurama movies (I thought the first one was solidly funny, the others just so-so at best), it was announced that Futurama would be brought back to TV in the old half hour format.

Today comes this news:
link

When the "Futurama" characters come back for new episodes on Comedy Central in mid-2010, they may sound different.

That is because producing studio 20th TV is proceeding with auditioning new actors after failing to reach an agreement with the original voice cast: John DiMaggio, Maurice LaMarche, Billy West, Tress MacNeille and Katey Sagal.

But wait, odds are that's B.S. They pulled the same thing with the Simpsons cast a while back. This is more than likely either (or both) a negotiating tactic or a way to draw attention heading into ComiCon.

Phil Lamar wrote on his blog: "It's a negotiating ploy by 20th Century Fox studio. It's the same thing they did w/ the Simpsons several years ago. They're hoping to scare the actors into accepting lower pay.
They don't think that it matters to the audience who is doing the voices. If people's emails don't convince them, maybe they'll find out at the Comic-Con panel next week."

If anything, they'd definitely have quite the spectacle if they set up an audition booth at the Con.

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

After success with the straight-to-video Futurama movies (I thought the first one was solidly funny, the others just so-so at best), it was announced that Futurama would be brought back to TV in the old half hour format.

Today comes this news:
link




But wait, odds are that's B.S. They pulled the same thing with the Simpsons cast a while back. This is more than likely either (or both) a negotiating tactic or a way to draw attention heading into ComiCon.

Phil Lamar wrote on his blog: "It's a negotiating ploy by 20th Century Fox studio. It's the same thing they did w/ the Simpsons several years ago. They're hoping to scare the actors into accepting lower pay.
They don't think that it matters to the audience who is doing the voices. If people's emails don't convince them, maybe they'll find out at the Comic-Con panel next week."

If anything, they'd definitely have quite the spectacle if they set up an audition booth at the Con.

Hummm... I can do a pretty mean Bender. "Kiss my shiny ass human!"

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

Hummm... I can do a pretty mean Bender. "Kiss my shiny ass human!"

Shiny metal ass.

NEXT!

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Shiny metal ass.

NEXT!

(Pssst... An accurate quote would have spoiled the joke)

[Gemini Cricket]

When the "Futurama" characters come back for new episodes on Comedy Central in mid-2010, they may sound different.

That is because producing studio 20th TV is proceeding with auditioning new actors after failing to reach an agreement with the original voice cast: John DiMaggio, Maurice LaMarche, Billy West, Tress MacNeille and Katey Sagal.

Bad news, everyone!

[Alex]

Other than Katy Segal I don't find the voices super distinctive. And experience with voice changes on other animated shows suggests I'd soon not notice.

So, unless the new voices are horrible I'm probably in the "don't really care" camp.

[Strangler Lewis]

I've given it a shot, but I kind of lump this show with Spongebob. I think there's a clever mix of characters, but they don't make me care what happens to any of them, and I seldom find much to laugh at in the proceedings. That said, as a creature of habit, I never like to see actors leave shows, so I will agree this is a tragedy.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Alex

Other than Katy Segal I don't find the voices super distinctive. And experience with voice changes on other animated shows suggests I'd soon not notice.

So, unless the new voices are horrible I'm probably in the "don't really care" camp.

Whereas as even the changes that the same voice actor makes to their characterizations over the course of a series stick out to me like a sore thumb, so a wholesale cast change would be like watching an entirely different show for me.

[Melonballer]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

If anything, they'd definitely have quite the spectacle if they set up an audition booth at the Con.

Now that would be awesome to see.

I can see someone reading a part and then suddenly going into an expletive filled rant.

[Alex]

Well, the obvious answer is for Fox to commission a death duel between you and me and then let the result rule.

I have the advantage of mass, stubbornness and never having been knocked down in a fight. You have the advantage of not be a lardass.